360 Engineering, a full-service mechanical engineering firm working on projects of all sizes in Colorado and across the U.S., is proud to be part of a team delivering a new 32,743-square-foot courthouse to the City of Westminster.
The new facility, which is being designed under the leadership of Anderson Hallas Architects with FCI Constructors serving as the construction manager and general contractor, will replace the existing structure, which is more than 60 years old and is no longer suited for modern courthouse operations.
The new courthouse is being built on the same site as the existing courthouse while the existing courthouse remains in full operation.
“We greatly appreciate our partnership with Anderson Hallas Architects as their team will place sustainability at the forefront of the design approach while achieving a LEED Gold certification,” said Lexie Zimmerman, PE, director of operations for 360 Engineering.
The contractual goal is LEED Silver, and through thoughtful design, equipment prioritization, and an effective partnership with FCI Constructors the project will achieve a LEED Gold designation along with achieving a stretch goal of net zero with the building and site mounted photovoltaics.
Once the design phase began, under the lead of Anderson Hallas Architects, 360 Engineering evaluated multiple mechanical system options to meet the building’s sustainability, operational, budgetary, and maintenance goals. Following the evaluation, the City selected the multi-zone heat pump rooftop unit system. This system offers the lowest first cost, reduced indoor space requirements, simplified maintenance, and lower building noise levels. In addition, it enables an all-electric building design with no reliance on natural gas.
After the major mechanical system was selected, the mechanical and plumbing systems were designed to serve the courtrooms, jury selection areas, holding cells, and administrative spaces throughout the facility. 360 Engineering worked closely with the construction team to ensure a smooth, efficient construction process, including an early long-lead procurement of mechanical systems to streamline the construction schedule.
